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Committee moves legislation to allow pot at K2

The King County Council on Tuesday passed legislation out of committee that would allow marijuana business at the K2 building. It will go before the full council in about a month.

The council's Transportation Economy and Environment (TrEE) Committee approved an amendment to the the county's comprehensive plan that would allow marijuana business at properties zoned Community Business and Industrial within the boundaries of the Vashon Town Plan. The amendment was introduced to the council Tuesday, and after a short discussion the council voted 5-0 (two members were absent) to send the legislation on to the full council with a recommendation to pass.

The move came as a surprise to some, as Councilmember Joe McDermott, who represents Vashon and is on the TrEE Committee, recently said the committee would likely take two or three meetings to consider the amendment before voting on it.

After Dan Anglin, a spokesman for Bakkhos Holding, the company under contract to purchase the K2 building, said the county was taking too long to move the amendment through and Bakkhos would likely look elsewhere to set up its operation, some Vashon residents contacted both McDermott and TrEE Committee Chair Rod Dembowski, asking them to move faster on it. Some also held a short rally outside the K2 building.

Several Vashon residents commented at the beginning of the TrEE Committee meeting both for and against the amendment.

The legislation will likely go before the full council at a public hearing in 35 to 40 days, according to Rick Bautista, a legislative analyst for the county who testified at the meeting. The county must give 30 days notice for the public hearing.

Bautista also noted at the meeting that under the proposed amendment, Bakkhos could grow marijuana and do light processing of the plant at K2, but couldn't infuse candy and other products there. Such processing would not be allowed at properties zoned Community Business, he said.

Anglin, however, has said in the past that Bakkhos plans to get the K2 building rezoned from Community Business to Industrial to fit the company's needs.

Also at the Tuesday meeting, McDermott added a clause to the amendment that would allow distilleries within the boundaries of the Vashon Town Plan. Earlier this year it came to light that the Seattle Distilling Company is out of compliance with the Vashon Town Plan. The council unanimously approved the addition.

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